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Activation of the mTOR signaling pathway in breast cancer and its correlation with the clinicopathologic variables

Woo Chul Noh1, Yang Hee Kim, Min Suk Kim

  • 1Department of Surgery, Korea Cancer Center Hospital, 215-4, Gongneung-dong, Nowon-gu, Seoul 139-706, Korea. nohwoo@kcch.re.kr

Breast Cancer Research and Treatment
|September 7, 2007
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Over half of breast cancer patients may be candidates for rapamycin treatment, identified by PTEN, p-Akt, and p-S6K1 protein expression. p-S6K1 expression indicates a worse prognosis for disease-free survival in breast cancer.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cancer Research

Background:

  • Rapamycin and its analogues are emerging targeted anticancer agents.
  • Pre-clinical studies suggest sensitivity in breast cancer with specific protein expressions (PTEN negative, p-Akt, or p-S6K1).

Purpose of the Study:

  • Determine the proportion of breast cancer patients eligible for rapamycin therapy.
  • Identify clinicopathologic features and prognosis of potentially rapamycin-sensitive tumors.

Main Methods:

  • Immunohistochemistry used to evaluate PTEN, p-Akt, and p-S6K1 expression in 122 breast cancer tissues.
  • Analysis of protein expression correlation with clinicopathologic variables and disease-free survival.

Main Results:

  • 4.1% PTEN negative, 41.0% p-Akt expressing, and 36.1% p-S6K1 expressing tumors identified.
  • 54.9% of tumors met criteria for rapamycin sensitivity.
  • p-S6K1 expression correlated with significantly worse disease-free survival.

Conclusions:

  • Over 50% of breast cancer patients may be candidates for rapamycin treatment based on PTEN, p-Akt, and p-S6K1 status.
  • p-S6K1 expression may serve as an independent prognostic factor for disease-free survival.

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